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2007 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The Bucs had an excellent draft.  While others may not have been high on it, the Bucs drafted two players on my list of players who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than them, and signed another as a college street free agent.  My only objection was that they did not come away with a wide receiver, a position of need for the team, in a draft deep in wide receiver talent.

Adams was the best pass rushing defensive end in the draft.  He will become (very soon) a double-digit sack guy.  He isn't as good against the run but will improve in that area.  He is adept in pursuit against the run, but needs to improve playing off blocks and making plays when teams run at him.  Sears will be in the mix to start at left guard as soon as this season.  He is already NFL-ready as a run blocker and just needs to hit the weight room to bet there as a pass blocker as well.  He has all the tools to be a solid long-term starter for the Bucs.  Piscitelli is a player I like a lot.  He has the smarts, speed, quickness, change of-direction skills and athleticism to be a solid free safety and the strength and hard-hitting ability to play in the box as a strong safety.  He does need to wrap up better when tackling and forgo the big hit.  He will also be a terror on special teams.  Piscitelli will develop into a Pro Bowl level talent.  Black is another top athlete.  I can see him as Brooks eventual replacement.  In the meantime he will be another top special teams player and could play a role in the Bucs' nickel defense.  Jackson was good value for the Bucs since he is an ideal cover two corner.  He is smart, tough and has good cover skills, but lacks top speed and quickness.  Peterson has good size and speed but will need time to develop.  The Bucs may try him at under-tackle where his athleticism is ideal, but he will need to get stronger.  Look for him to spend time on Tampa Bays' development squad.  Personally, I would have gone in a different direction with this pick.  I would have grabbed one of the talented wide receivers that fell in the draft due to the tremendous depth at the position in the draft.  Both Allison and Clowney were available at this spot.  Clowney, with his tremendous speed and return potential would have been a great pick, and would have resulted in me giving the Bucs' draft an "A".  Hayward is another fast, athletic linebacker.  He played outside in college but has the skills and measureables to move inside in the Bucs' 4-3 defense.  Hayward will need time to adjust to the NFL, but is the third player drafted so far who could be a stud on special teams (Piscitelli, Black).  Denman is another development squad prospect.  He has good size, but player better when he played at a lower weight in college.  Time will tell if he can regain his skill set at the higher weight, something he will need to do to have a NFL career.  Hamilton is another cornerback who fits best in a cover two scheme, he has excellent feet, but needs to get stronger to be able to fight through blockers and force the run.  He is another development squad candidate.  Darby runs tough and catches well, but lacks speed and quickness.  He can be effective if used, but don't expect big plays.  He could be an effective backup.

The Bucs drafted a number of players who appear to be development squad candidates so they didn't come up with a lot of college street free agents of note.  However, they did sign a player I think has a very good NFL future, in linebacker Sam Olajabutu.  This kid is quite simply a football player.  His workout numbers were not great (as expected), but his on field read and react skills are tremendous.  He is always around the ball.  Worst case he will be a solid backup and tremendous special teams player.  Best case he is one of those heartwarming underdog stories; an undersized player who fights the odds and becomes a solid NFL starter.  Taylor is a smart quarterback with limited athletic ability.  He is a good quarterback to keep on a practice squad since he could be activated in a pinch because he will know the offense and won't make stupid plays.

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PLAYER WHO COULD HAVE A BETTER NFL CAREER THAN PLAYERS SELECTED AHEAD OF HIM in the DRAFT

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PLAYER WHO COULD HAVE A BETTER NFL CAREER THAN PLAYERS SELECTED AHEAD OF HIM in the DRAFT

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